LogFAQs > #979600849

Id Love A Black Final Fantasy Character That Isnt Just Comic Relief

Final Fantasy, as a franchise, has a short list of black main cast members. Within the mainline series, there are both Barret Wallace from Final Fantasy 7 and Sazh Katsroy from the Final Fantasy 13 trilogy. While, as a black gamer, Ive enjoyed their inclusion within the series, its time for us to get a black character that doesnt fall into the same comic relief archetype.

I was first introduced to Barret when I played Final Fantasy 7 back in 2002 or so. It wasnt my first Final Fantasy (that award belongs to Final Fantasy 8) and I was getting my footing within the RPG world.

Within the original game, I found Barret to be quite hilarious and a great counterpart to the stoic Cloud. While Cloud spent most of his earlier screen time keeping his feelings on the inside and being an unreliable narrator, Barret spent his time calling Cloud out on his nonsense. He acted as a loud, brash reminder that the world was dying, and Cloud and the gang needed to get their act together or things were going to go from bad to worse.

Many times he was the butt of jokes, reacting to situations in loud and overreactive ways. The cast members chuckled as Barret was once again being Barret and getting impatient because there was yet another obstacle placed within their path. Many of these characteristics translated to the Remake trilogy, and he was easily one of my favorites within the cast. I was looking forward to seeing a high-definition version of him in his sailor outfit, and I was not let down, watching him mention how natural and comforting the ridiculous attire was for him.

This isnt to say that Barret is a one-trick pony. What started off as the partys archetypal comic relief began to show more depth as the narrative thickened. This is especially apparent within Rebirth, where he's given multiple quieter moments, contemplating what will come next, and hoping that Marlene, the center of his world, is okay. Not to mention, he's faced with his regrets in the form of Marlenes birth dad, Dyne. The usually brash and tough-as-nails character crumbles and bursts into tears as Dyne passes away.

His character actually has a lot in common with Sazh, who I first experienced in 2010. I had bought a PS3 just to play the game, and I personally loved it, and Sazh was one of the reasons why.

Much like Barret, hes a devoted father. Dajh, his son, gets caught up within the events of Final Fantasy 13. Dajh wanted to see a fal'Cie, so Sazh took him to the Euride Gorge power plant to see the Kujata. While Sazh went to buy a Chocobo Chick gift, Dajh wandered into the plant alone. Inside, he encountered fellow cast members Vanille and Fang, who were preparing to attack Kujata. The attack provoked Kujata, making Dajh its chosen protector of sorts. This led to him being a test subject and Sazh feeling like hed failed his son.

Much like Barret, Sazh is introduced as the comic relief, and a loud counterpart to the far more stoic Lightning. Lightning ironically falls into the same archetype as Cloud, keeping her motivations and such a mystery, even as Sazh pries and refuses to be left behind. He calls her out for her outrageous thoughts, pointing out how one person going against an entire government is ridiculous.

Sazh, too, has a defining moment, in which he finds out that Vanille and Fangs destiny collided with his sons and is the reason why their lives were upended. At one point, I remember thinking that he would shoot Vanille as the revelation happened, but then he just gave up on life. Luckily, his son sparks his desire to live, and he continues with the others on their journey together.

As a black gamer, I truly do appreciate their inclusion within the franchise. Each of them, in my opinion, was done with enough complexity that they were not just the laughingstock of a party.

Id argue that each of these characters transcended their real father figure role to become figurative ones for the casts of their respective entries. But given that theyre both woven from the same thread, its now time to cut a black character from a completely different piece of cloth.

This shift can be achieved in various ways, but I'd love to see a black character who is more introverted and quiet. Stereotypically, society has often perceived black individuals, such as myself, as loud and aggressive. Both Barret and Sazh stand out as some of the most animated and outspoken characters in their respective games. It would be refreshing to see a character that defies these stereotypes. I wonder how impactful it could be to introduce a black cast member who embodies the silent mentor role, akin to Auron from previous Final Fantasy titles. There is a unique power in subtlety, and I personally find validation in the quiet strength exhibited by many characters in the series.

The journey towards inclusivity and representation in Final Fantasy remains ongoing. As Final Fantasy continues to evolve, let it embark on a new era of storytelling that celebrates the depth and diversity of its characters, presenting us with a beautiful successor to the legacy of Barret and Sazh.